Fetter Chamber Group Gives Back

In 1975, an initial endowment from Elizabeth Pollard Fetter ‘25 began what is now known as the Fetter Chamber Music Program. Elizabeth Pollard Fetter’s husband later added to the endowment, as have successive generations of the family, including children Robert P. Fetter ‘53, Thomas W. Fetter ‘56, and Ellen Fetter Gille. The program has given opportunities for musical exposure and immersion to Swarthmore students, faculty, and community that otherwise would not have existed.

Robert P. Fetter and his wife, who currently live at Broadmead Retirement Community in Cockeysville, MD, recently extended an invitation to the Fetter Program for a Swarthmore chamber music group to perform at Broadmead. On Sunday, April 2nd, four student musicians took the opportunity to play for the Broadmead residents and Fetter family, nine of whom attended the one-hour recital. Jasmine Sun ’18 (violin), Ayaka Yorihiro ’20 (viola), Noah Rosenberg ’18 (cello), and Joshua Mundinger ’18 (piano) performed Passacaglia by Johan Halvorsen for violin and cello, Ballade No. 4, Op. 52 by Frédéric Chopin for solo piano, and Piano Quartet, Op. 60 by Johannes Brahms, which they would later encore at the April 23rd Fetter concert. 

The Fetter musicians played passionately and the Broadmead performance was well received by all in attendance. Dr. Michael Johns, coordinator of the Fetter Chamber Music Program, noted the unique gratitude which permeated the recital from both residents and performers. Says Johns, “We were honored by the invitation and opportunity to return the kindness of the family. Swarthmore College students and faculty, past and present, and the community at large have been enriched by the musical communication made possible through the generosity of the Fetter family.”

Maya Kikuchi ’20